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Tigers manager Leyland tips cap to Bochy

Tigers manager Leyland tips cap to Bochy

DETROIT -- Jim Leyland has preached his lack of concern about opposing managers' methods. Detroit's skipper prefers to worry about his own team and his own strategy.

Still, he couldn't help but praise Giants manager Bruce Bochy for the job he has done taking a team missing the Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game and its closer and directing the club to a division title and World Series berth, despite facing elimination in six contests this postseason.

"Obviously, his track record speaks for itself," Leyland said prior to Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday. "He's one of the best managers in all of baseball, there's no question. He handles his bullpen tremendous, as good as you can handle a bullpen. He's at the head of the class with some other guys, there's no question about that."

Bochy managed the Padres for 12 years before switching allegiances to the Giants before the 2007 campaign. His teams have finished with a winning record in nine of his 18 seasons at the helm. This is his third World Series appearance as skipper, and he's seeking his second ring. Yet Bochy seems to fly under the radar, with just one National League Manager of the Year Award on his resume and only one second-place finish.

"He's got a nice, calming influence about himself," Leyland said. "You know who's in charge. He's everything that's good about baseball managers, in my opinion. He does it the right way. You never hear Bruce Bochy boasting himself or anything like that. You don't really hear much about him. He's terrific."